Air cleaner and its ionizing unit

ABSTRACT

When an ionization section is taken out of a main body housing of a conventional air cleaner in order to wash the ionization section, an ionization line may be cut by being accidentally touched. In order to avoid this problem, a pre-filter ( 7 ) is mounted on a front surface of an ionization and dust collection unit ( 6 ) so as to be detachable. The pre-filter ( 7 ) is slidably guided by guide furrings ( 23 ) in a sub-frame ( 12 ), and is mounted on a front surface of the sub-frame ( 12 ). When the pre-filter ( 7 ) is mounted, ionization lines ( 15 ) are not exposed, so that the pre-filter ( 7 ) protects the ionization lines ( 15 ). When the ionization and dust collection unit ( 6 ) is detached from the main body housing, therefore, there is no problem that the ionization lines ( 15 ) might be cut by being accidentally touched with worker&#39;s hands, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air cleaner, and more particularly,to an air cleaner adapted to charge dust particles suspended in airusing an ion shower and to capture the charged dust particles using theprinciple of electrostatic adsorption. Further, it relates to anionizing unit for such an air cleaner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Air cleaners of an electric dust collection type for charging dustparticles included in air and capturing the charged dust particles byelectrostatic adsorption have been known. Such an air cleaner comprisesan ionization section (a discharge section) for charging the dustparticles. The ionization section comprises an ionization line and anopposite electrode which serve as discharge electrodes, and the dustparticles included in air passing between the ionization line and theopposite electrode are charged using an ion shower produced bydischarging the ionization line.

The charged dust particles are captured by being electrostaticallyadsorbed in the dust collection section.

In the air cleaner of an electric dust collection type, the ionizationsection and the dust collection section must be periodically cleaned,and a filter in the dust collection section must be replaced in order tokeep the dust collection performance good.

The ionization section and the dust collection section are generallyformed as an ionizing unit for convenience of washing or the like sothat they are detachable from a main body housing. When the ionizingunit is taken out by opening the main body housing, the ionization linein the ionizing unit is exposed, so that it may be erroneously cut ordamaged. The reason for this is that the ionization line is difficult tosee because it is a very thin metal line, so that it can easily betouched erroneously by a worker's hands or by other parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem andhas for its object to provide an air cleaner having a protectivestructure for protecting an ionization line provided in an ionizationsection. Further, an object of the present invention is to provide anair cleaner and an ionizing unit which are so improved that anionization line is not erroneously cut when an ionization section (anionizing unit) is taken out.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an air cleaner of thetype that includes a pre-filter for capturing relatively large dirt anddust in air; an ionization section having an ionization line and anopposite electrode for charging dust particles in air; and a dustcollection section for capturing the charged dust particles, ischaracterized in that the pre-filter is mounted on the ionizationsection so as to be detachable.

Even when the main body housing is opened to take out the ionizationsection, the pre-filter is mounted on the ionization section so that theionization line is protected by the pre-filter. That is, the ionizationline is not exposed, so that a worker cannot accidentally touch theionization line. When the ionization section is washed, the pre-filtermay be detached from the ionization section which has been detached fromthe main body housing. The ionization line is exposed by detaching thepre-filter. In this case, however, the worker performs work while payingattention to the ionization line, so that the ionization line may not beerroneously cut.

The ionization section and the dust collection section may be integratedas one unit, and the pre-filter may be mounted on a front surface sideof an ionization and dust collection unit thus integrated so as to bedetachable. Accordingly, the unit can be simply detached and mounted.Moreover, when the unit is taken out or mounted, the ionization line inthe unit is protected by the pre-filter. Accordingly, the ionizationline is not directly touched with worker's hands, for example, and isnot erroneously cut.

The ionization and dust collection unit may have a main frame and asub-frame, the sub-frame being made attachable and detachable to andfrom the main frame on the side of a front surface of the main frame,with the ionization line being stretched over the sub-frame and thedetachable pre-filter being mounted on a front surface of the sub-frame.The main frame may be provided with the opposite electrode, and supporta filter for capturing the charged dust particles in the air byelectrostatic adsorption.

Such an arrangement makes washing the unit easy. That is, the integratedunit may be taken out of the main body housing, and is also easy tomount.

On the other hand, the unit obtained by the integration which has beendetached from the main body housing can be decomposed into the mainframe and the sub-frame. The ionization line which is protected by thepre-filter is stretched over the sub-frame, and the opposite electrodeis provided in the main frame. Accordingly, it is possible to detach thepre-filter from the sub-frame and carefully wash the ionization line.The opposite electrode in the main frame is, in many cases, very dirty,but it is possible to wash it without paying attention to the ionizationline.

The main frame may have a roll filter accommodation section provided atits one end, and a rear surface of the main frame may support theperiphery of the film-shaped filter corresponding to one time of usewhich is pulled out of a roll filter accommodated in the roll filteraccommodation section.

Such an arrangement makes the air cleaner convenient for handling.

According to a second aspect of the invention, an ionizing unit for anair cleaner for charging dust particles included in the air andcapturing the charged dust particles, is characterized by comprising aframe and an ionization line which is stretched over the frame; anopposite electrode provided in the frame so as to be opposite to theionization line in a predetermined state; and a pre-filter mounted on afront surface of the frame so as to be detachable.

A dust collection section for capturing the charged dust particles maybe mounted on the frame, with the dust collection section including afilter arranged such that the periphery thereof is supported on a rearsurface of the frame for capturing the charged dust particles in the airby electrostatic adsorption.

The frame may have an accommodation section which can accommodate a rollfilter which is a film-shaped filter having such a length that it can beused a plurality of times wound in a roll shape provided at its one end.

Since the pre-filter is mounted on the front surface of the frame so asto be detachable, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention,the ionization line in the ionizing unit is protected by the pre-filter.That is, the ionization line is covered with the pre-filter, and is notexposed. Accordingly, the ionization line is not prone to beaccidentally touched with a worker's hands, for example, and may not beerroneously cut.

At the time of washing, it is possible to pay careful attention to theionization line by detaching the pre-filter to expose the ionizationline. Further, the pre-filter can independently be washed when detached.

The frame may have a main frame and a sub-frame, the sub-frame beingconstructed so as to be attachable and detachable to and from the mainframe on the side of its front surface. The ionization line and thepre-filter may be provided in the sub-frame, and the opposite electrodeand the dust collection section may be provided in the main frame.

With such a construction, the ionization line and the opposite electrodeare easier to wash. Further, when they are integrated by being combined,the air cleaner has a structure easy to handle in which the ionizationline is protected by the pre-filter.

As described in the foregoing, according to the present invention, it ispossible to provide an air cleaner having a superior structure in whichthe ionization line is protected by the pre-filter so that it may not becut.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the overall constructionof an air cleaner 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ionization and dust collection unitaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a locking structure in which asub-frame 12 is fitted in a main frame 11, to fix a fitted state in theembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view taken along a line A—A shown in FIG. 2 anda cross-sectional end elevation in a state where an ionization and dustcollection unit 6 according to the embodiment of the present inventionis assembled.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically describedwhile referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the overall constructionof an air cleaner 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The air cleaner 1 has a main body housing 2 and a front panel 3 which isfitted to a front surface of the main body housing 2. A motor (notshown) and a blast fan which is rotated by the motor are provided in themain body housing 2. Air is drawn from the front panel 3 by the blastfan, is cleaned, and is then blown off from a blow-off grill 4 on anupper surface of the main body housing 2. A display and operationsection 5 is provided at a lower part of the front surface of the mainbody housing 2. The display and operation section 5 comprises anoperation section for turning a power supply in the air cleaner 1 on/offand switching an operation mode and a display section for displaying anoperating state.

The main body housing 2 accommodates an ionization and dust collectionunit 6. The ionization and dust collection unit 6 has a pre-filter 7attached to its front surface. The pre-filter 7 is for capturingrelatively large dirt and dust. In the ionization and dust collectionunit 6, an ionization line and an opposite electrode for charging dustparticles included in air passing through the unit, described later, areincorporated. A film-shaped filter 16 for capturing the charged dustparticles is mounted on a rear surface of the ionization and dustcollection unit 6. The film-shaped filter 16 is pulled out of a rollfilter 8.

The main body housing 2 further comprises two layers of photocatalystelements 9 arranged on the front and rear sides and an inverter lamp 10arranged therebetween in an inner part of the ionization and dustcollection unit 6. Each photocatalyst element 9 is a thin plate-shapedmember having a honey-comb structure which passes air drawn from itsfront surface backward, and supports a photocatalyst such as titaniumoxide. The inverter lamp 10 directs light to the photocatalyst elements9, to activate the photocatalyst carried in the elements. An odorousconstituent in air can be removed by activating the photocatalystelements. Further, the inverter lamp 10 has antibacterial and antiviraleffects.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ionization and dust collection unit6. The ionization and dust collection unit 6 has a main frame 11 and asub-frame 12.

The main frame 11 is formed of an insulating material such as resin, andan opening enclosed by the frame comprises an opposite electrode group.The opposite electrode group has nine opposite electrodes 13, arrangedparallel to one another, extending in the vertical direction in thepresent embodiment. Each of the opposite electrodes 13 has a U shape incross section, and the adjacent opposite electrodes 13 connect with oneanother by a lot of thin connecting pieces 14 curved in a concave shape.That is, the nine opposite electrodes 13 are formed by sheet metalforming from one metal plate. The adjacent opposite electrodes 13connect with each other by the thin connecting pieces 14 in order thatair passes therebetween.

The sub-frame 12 is also formed of an insulating material such as resin.Eight ionization lines 15 extending in the vertical direction arestretched parallel to one another in an opening enclosed by the frame.

The sub-frame 12 is constructed so as to be attachable and detachable toand from the main frame 11. When the sub-frame 12 is fitted in the mainframe 11, the ionization lines 15 are arranged between the oppositeelectrodes 13 to be extended parallel to the opposite electrodes 13.That is, the eight ionization lines 15 and the nine opposite electrodes13 are parallel and alternately opposite to one another.

Furthermore, the ionization lines 15 can be separated from the oppositeelectrodes 13 by detaching the sub-frame 12 from the main frame 11.

When the ionization lines 15 and the opposite electrodes 13 are madeseparable, the ionization lines 15 and the opposite electrodes 13 areeasily maintained and specifically, are easy to wash. That is, dirtadheres to the ionization lines 15 and the opposite electrodes 13 as theair cleaner is used. Accordingly, the ionization lines 15 and theopposite electrodes 13 must be periodically washed. If an integratedconstruction where the ionization lines 15 and the opposite electrodes13 could not be separated from each other were used, there would be someproblems. For example, the thin ionization lines 15 might be cut at thetime of washing unless special attention is paid. Further, the oppositeelectrodes 13 and the connecting plates 14 would be hard to wash becausethe ionization lines 15 would interfere.

In the present embodiment, the ionization lines 15 and the oppositeelectrodes 13 can be separately washed or cleaned by separating them.Consequently, the ionization lines 15 are not in danger of being cut atthe time of washing the opposite electrodes 13. Further, the oppositeelectrodes 13 can be elaborately washed without paying attention to theionization lines 15.

A roll filter accommodation section 17 is integrally formed at a lowerend of the main frame 11. The roll filter accommodation section 17accommodates the roll filter 8, which is a film-shaped filter havingsuch a length that it can be used a plurality of times and which iswound in a roll shape, as shown in FIG. 1. The film-shaped filter 16,corresponding to use of the roll filter 8 one time, is pulled off theroll filter 8 and supported on a rear surface of the main frame 11. Thefilm-shaped filter 16 is a filter for electrostatic adsorption, whichcaptures charged dust particles by electrostatic adsorption using an ionshower produced by the ionization lines 15.

When the opposite electrodes 13 are washed, the roll filter 8 and thefilm-shaped filter 16 which has been pulled out are detached from themain frame 11.

The sub-frame 12 is fitted in the main frame 11 in the following manner.Two engagement holes 18 are formed on the right and left sides in alower frame 11D of the main frame 11 (an upper surface of the rollfilter accommodation section 17). Two projections 19 which arerespectively engaged with the engagement holes 18 are provided in alower frame 12D of the sub-frame 12. The projections 19 are fitted inthe engagement holes 18, and an upper frame 12U of the sub-frame 12 isrotated toward the far side (backward), centered around the lower frame12D, thereby making it possible to fit the sub-frame 12 in the mainframe 11. Two locking members 20 are provided in a protruding mannerupward on the right and left sides in the upper frame 12U of thesub-frame 12. On the other hand, two locking members 21 are alsoprovided in a protruding manner forward in an upper frame 11U of themain frame 11.

In a state where the sub-frame 12 is fitted in the main frame 11, asshown in FIG. 3A, the two locking members 20 provided in the upper frame12U of the sub-frame 12 and the two locking members 21 provided in theupper frame 11U of the main frame 11 are in a state where they areadjacent to each other in orthogonal directions. The locking members 20and 21 are respectively provided with small steps 20 s and 21 s, asshown in FIG. 3B. The steps 20 s and 21 s respectively lock the upperframe 11U of the main frame 11 and the upper frame 12U of the sub-frame12. Accordingly, the sub-frame 12 can be held to the main frame 11.

When the sub-frame 12 is detached from the main frame 11, a force may beapplied such that the locking members 20 and 21 are respectively pressedin opposite directions to the steps 20 s and 21 s to rotate the upperframe 12U of the sub-frame 12 toward this side (forward), as shown inFIG. 3A.

In the present embodiment, the pre-filter 7 is mounted on the frontsurface of the sub-frame 12. Specifically, referring to FIG. 2, each ofa right frame 12R and a left frame 12L of the sub-frame 12 has a guidefurring 23 for sliding the pre-filter 7 upward and downward formed onits front surface. The guide furring 23 comprises a hook 24 having an Lshape in cross section. Both the sides of pre-filter 7 which are slidalong the guide furrings 23 are respectively prevented from coming offthe guide furrings 23 by the hooks 24. Consequently, the pre-filter 7can be mounted on the front surface of the sub-frame 12 by sliding thepre-filter 7 downward from the top of the sub-frame 12.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view taken along a line A—A and is across-sectional end elevation in a state where the ionization and dustcollection unit 6 is assembled. A hollow arrow in FIG. 4 indicates theflow of air.

When the pre-filter 7 is mounted on the front surface of the sub-frame12, the pre-filter 7 protects the ionization lines 15. The ionizationlines 15 are difficult to see because they are significantly thin lines.Accordingly, the ionization lines 15 may be touched with a worker'shands in cases such as a case where the ionization and dust collectionunit 6 is detached from the main body housing 2, which is not desirablebecause the worker may hurt his hands or cut an ionization line 15.Conventionally, the pre-filter 7 is attached to a rear surface of thefront panel 3 (see FIG. 1). When the front panel 3 is detached,therefore, the front surface of the ionization and dust collection unit6 appears so that the ionization lines 15 are exposed. If the ionizationand dust collection unit 6 is detached, therefore, there are someproblems. For example, the ionization lines 15 may be cut without beingnoticed.

In the present embodiment, the pre-filter 7 is mounted on the sub-frame12 and the pre-filter 7 protects the ionization lines 15, as shown inFIG. 4. When the ionization and dust collection unit 6 is detached fromthe main body housing 2, therefore, the ionization lines 15, which areprotected by the pre-filter 7, are not susceptible to being accidentallycut, for example.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, description was made of an example inwhich the ionization and dust collection unit 6 is integrated, and theframe is constituted by the main frame 11 and the sub-frame 12. However,the present invention may be directed to an air cleaner in which anionization section and a dust collection section are separatelyprovided, in which a pre-filter is mounted on a front surface of theionization section so as to be detachable.

The present invention may be so constructed that an ionization sectionis constituted by a single frame which cannot be separated into a mainframe and a sub-frame, and the single frame comprises an ionization lineand an opposite electrode. Further, the present invention may be soconstructed that a dust collection unit is incorporated into such anionization section.

In short, the present invention is directed to an air cleaner comprisingan ionization section so constructed that an ionization line isprotected by mounting a pre-filter, and an ionizing unit for the aircleaner.

Although a construction such that the pre-filter 7 is attached anddetached to and from the front surface of the sub-frame 12 by being slidhas been described, the present invention may be directed to suchconstructions that the pre-filter 7 is screwed, for example, to thefront surface of the sub-frame 12, attached thereto on the side of itsfront surface by a hook or the like, or attached thereto by anothermounting method.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment,and various modifications are possible within the range of the claims.

This application claims priority benefits under the convention on thebasis of Japanese Patent Application NO. 11-260720 filed with theJapanese Patent Office on Sep. 14, 1999, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

What is claim is:
 1. An ionizing unit for an air cleaner for chargingdust particles included in air and capturing the charged dust particles,comprising: a main frame (11); a sub-frame (12) detachably mounted onthe main frame (11), the sub-flame (12) having a front side; anionization line (15) which is mounted on the sub-frame (12); an oppositeelectrode (13) mounted on the main frame (11) so as to be opposite tothe ionization line (15) when the sub-frame (12) is mounted on the mainframe (11); and a pre-filter (7) mounted on a front side of thesub-frame (12) so as to be detachable.
 2. The ionizing unit for the aircleaner according to claim 1, further comprising: a filter (16) having aperipheral portion that is supported on a rear surface of the main frame(11) for capturing charged dust particles in the air by electrostaticadsorption.
 3. The ionizing unit for the air cleaner according to claim2, wherein the filter (16) is a section of a roll filter (8), and themain frame 11 has an accommodation section (17) which can accommodatethe roll filter (8).
 4. The ionizing unit for the air cleaner accordingto claim 1, wherein the main frame (11) has an accommodation section(17) which can accommodate a roll filter (8), from which a section canbe pulled and supported at a rear side of the main frame (11).
 5. Theair cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising at least oneadditional ionization line (15) mounted on the sub-frame (12), and atleast one additional opposite electrode (13) mounted on the main frame(11).
 6. An air cleaner, comprising: an integrated ionization and dustcollection unit (6) that includes a main frame (11) having a front side,a sub-frame (12) that is detachably mounted on the front side of themain frame (11), the sub-frame (12) having a front side, an ionizationline (15) mounted on the sub-frame (12), an opposite electrode (13)mounted on the main frame (11), the opposite electrode (11) cooperatingwith the ionization line (15) to charge dust particles in air passingthrough the air cleaner, and a filter (16) supported on the main frame(11) to capture the charged dust particles; and a pre-filter (7) forcapturing relatively large dirt and dust in the air, the pre-filter (7)being detachably mounted on the front side of the sub-frame (12).
 7. Theair cleaner according to claim 6, further comprising at least oneadditional ionization line (15) mounted on the sub-frame (12), and atleast one additional opposite electrode (13) mounted on the main frame(11).
 8. The air cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the filter (16)is a section of a roll filter (8), and the main frame (11) has a rollfilter accommodation section (17) provided at one end thereof toaccommodate the roll filter (8), and a rear side of the main frame (11)supports a periphery of the section of the roll filter (8), which ispulled out from the roll filter (8) for one-time use.